Acts 28:11, Castor and Pollux

After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux.

//Some of Paul’s adventures in the Bible are fascinating. After one shipwreck, he tells of next boarding a vessel with the figurehead of the Twin Gods. These gods were popular with navigators in the ancient world, so perhaps Paul chose this vessel to prevent another shipwreck. Could be, I guess … it’s hard to know why he thought to mention this little detail.

Anyway, the brothers Castor and Pollux, known as the Dioskouri, were worshiped by Romans and Greeks both. There were temples to the twins in Athens and Rome, and a number of shrines in other locations. They are sons of Zeus, proficient in horsemanship and hunting, usually depicted with their horses.

Today, Castor and Pollux have been demoted to a brand of organic puppy food. Nevertheless, they have outlived most of their Olympian peers.

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